Time for Canines

11/03/2025

Hi Everyone!
I have recently moved to Plymouth and I am opening bookings for dog training consultations!
I am available to help you and you dog build a stronger bond with your canine companion through ethical, force-free training methods. My approach is rooted in the latest science and focuses on understanding your dog's emotional needs, rather than obedience and commands.
I cover a range of behavioral challenges, but my biggest passion is reactivity towards dogs and humans.
My Credentials & Experience:
✅ Certified by the Nordic Education Centre for Ethical Dog Trainers (following methods of Turid Rugaas famous for her groundbreaking work on Calming Signals)
✅ Completed Aggression Master Course/ Mike Shikashio
✅ Continuing education with Nordic/ Dr. Amber Batson (Level 4)
✅ Completed Ethology & Evolution with Roger Abrantes
✅ Member of Grisha Stewart Academy
✅ Former rescue dog foster home (5 years in Poland) & now part of Fetch + Releash in Canada, providing behavioral support
✅ Owner of a rescue German Shepherd, deeply understanding the challenges and rewards of working with rescue dogs
My Approach:
🐕 No aversives – No slip leads, shock collars, prong collars, or corrections, no quick fixes or outdated dominance based methods
🐕 Science-based, force-free methods – Helping dogs feel safe and understood, non judgemental towards the caregivers
🐕 Focus on emotions, not commands – Supporting your dog in overcoming fear, anxiety, and aggression at the root level
If you're in Plymouth and need compassionate, expert guidance for your dog, I’d love to help!
CONTACT
phone: 07511449893
email: [email protected]
Area covered: around PL5

17/01/2025

Today I was very happy to receive my level 3 Nordic Education Centre for Ethical Dog Trainers certificate.
It was amazing to learn methods developed by Turid Rugaas which was always a massive inspiration for me.
From all dog related courses I have done Nordic was closest to my ethical standards!

I feel grateful I had an opportunity to learn as well for all people who supported me!

I am also very excited about yesterday's start of my education on level 4!

04/01/2025

My little New Year's Client from Devon

Meet Baxter, a sweet pup who came to me with resource guarding concerns. Together with his owner, we made some key changes: moving his food to a safer, low-traffic spot, focusing on reducing his stress, and introducing gentle exercises to help him move away from guarded areas without force. We also practiced recall and worked on shifting his perception of people near his bowl—from threatening to positive. On the second session we introduced foundations of 'drop' cue.

Baxter’s journey isn’t just about training. He’s also dealing with allergies (currently managed with medication) and recently moved to a new home—big changes that can add to stress levels and impact behavior. It’s always important to consider how health and environmental changes can impact dogs life!

Baxter and his owner done great job by continuing to practise and following little changes.

03/11/2024

Salem is knackered tonight after a fun-filled afternoon! 🐾We had a nice walk, and then spent over an hour on his training—a routine we started last winter for mental stimulation and bonding during the long evenings.

Here in the UK, fireworks are everywhere from 5 pm onwards during autumn and winter, so we’ve had to shift our walks to mornings to avoid unnecessary stress. Salem get a bit anxious with all the noise. But thanks to his training, he’s building confidence and spending good time with mum.

Today, he amazed me once again! First, he collected all the socks and tucked them into a box 🧦📦, then showed off his door-closing skills. 🚪👏 We also started on a new task: recognizing when someone is upset. He learned to place his paws on my knees in response, and in just 20 minutes, he was reacting to me covering my face with my hands. 🤯💞

Training together is so rewarding. It builds our relationship, boosts both our confidence, and brings so many laughs. 💫🐕 There’s no need to do anything complex—just a few fun tricks can enrich your life and deepen the bond with your pup. I highly recommend trying out new things!
🐶💖 I’m so proud of this clever boy!

31/10/2024

Please please please

Do not walk your dog in the evenings during Halloween or around Guy Fawkes.

Really it is better for your dog to toilet in the garden than run away or get completely traumatized.
If you do not have the garden you can attach 2 leashes to harness and collar. I do not recommend collars for daily walks at all but this is only an idea to increase safety, you don't walk your dog escape!

Talk to your veterinarians about calming meds, play some music, close the windows and comfort your dog everytime he or she needs.

29/10/2024

It might be almost Halloween but we all know for many of us the biggest “fright night” comes very shortly after: fireworks

November 5th is traditionally the evening associated with fireworks displays and bonfires although on more recent times it has become common for individuals and events to let off fireworks more frequently any time in the week leading up to and the week after November 5th (and, to be honest, quite randomly at many other times across the year)

It’s not just dogs who are affected. Many cats, small animals like rabbits, horses, cattle and wildlife (and people!) are often negatively affected.

If you have an animal you share your life with, who is affected by firework noises, it’s a good idea to start preparing now.

*if your pet is particularly fearful, call your vets for advice on fear reducing medicine NOW. It’s not long to go and you re likely to need to have your pet vet checked and weighed and decisions on the best medication made tailored specifically to your pet (there are several fear reducing medicines which work in different ways each with various pros and potential negatives that need considering)

*start drawing your curtains earlier, putting on background music (see below) and associating this with something calm and fun for your pet to do. Perhaps it’s a delicious paste on a washable mat, or an indoor calm treat search, or maybe it’s a massage and groom in the presence of a calming odour.

*consider background noises. These can help because they help everyone stay calmer - the radio station Classic FM for pets is back for November 2024. Link below. But you may prefer some other rhythmic calming tracks played through speakers. It can be helpful to have calming music on in the room you ll be spending the evening and have white noise and rhythmic sounds like drumming sounds, by a window or in the periphery of the main room.
Start playing them quietly now and associate them going on with calm, social activities and then you can gradually increase the volume over a number of days / evenings

*bring feeding and toilet opportunities earlier, days in advance. Make sure your dog is always wearing a collar with up to date tag information and that your microchip details for all your animals are up to date. Check the clips on your leads and buckles on harnesses and collars are safe and secure and if relevant to you, have your dog on a long line for every toilet opportunity from around 3pm. You may want to increase the number of litter trays you have for your cats and start shutting them in for several hours from mid afternoon each day. Don’t forget to consider bringing any small pets into more sound proofed areas too.

We ll share some more tips over the next week too
We hope you can all stay safe x

https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/pet-classics-2024-fireworks-season/

26/10/2024

Dogs have unique sensory preferences that greatly influence their comfort, stress levels, and well-being. Their senses—especially smell, hearing, and vision—are highly developed, often surpassing human abilities. Research highlights how sensory environments can impact dogs and offers ways to create stress-reducing spaces.

1. Olfactory Sensitivity (Smell) 🌸: With up to 300 million olfactory receptors, dogs find strong scents (like air fresheners and perfumes) overwhelming. Sticking to unscented or natural products can help reduce their stress, while natural outdoor smells provide them with mental enrichment. Some dogs might enjoy natural essential oils which can be used for nosework activities or aromatherapy.

2. Auditory Sensitivity (Hearing) 🎶: Dogs hear frequencies we can’t, which makes loud or high-pitched noises (like fireworks or vacuums) distressing. Providing a quiet retreat and playing soft, continuous sounds with slightly spaced out notes can ease their anxiety.

3. Visual Sensitivity (Lighting) 💡: Dogs see best in dim light, and bright or flickering lights can be overstimulating. Opt for dim, steady lighting in areas where they rest for a more calming effect.

4. Tactile Comfort (Touch) 🛏️: Dogs have sensitive paw pads and appreciate soft, padded surfaces like rugs or orthopedic beds, especially if they’re older or have joint issues. If you don't mind your own bed would be a great option for the dog! Your dog also have a right to choose if he or she wants to be touched. I recommend to learn body language if the dog, this will help you to better understand if the dog really wants you or your kid to pet her.

Creating a sensory-friendly space adjusted to their needs can reduce stress and enhance your dog’swell being🐶💚

21/10/2024

Very good post from Mutty Professor!

LOOK AT THE DOG!

Why can't people see it? Isn't it obvious?

I am often baffled at how people, including dog training professionals, are liking content on social media that shows a dog being **successfully trained**, whilst quite clearly appearing very stressed. What’s more concerning is that a professional is proud enough of the results to showcase it.

The behaviours I am often observing are; tighty closed mouth, ears pulled back, slow (careful) behaviour, tail tucked, avoiding eye contact, dull eyes, slow blink rate, lowered head, hunched posture, and an absence of behaviour associated with positive anticipation of reward.

Indeed, undesired behaviour can be stressful and dangerous for others to be around. It can be stressful, dangerous and restricting for the dog exhibiting the behaviour and for their owner. If a dog is no longer exhibiting the behaviour, then yes- you've hopefully made things safer for others and better for the owner. But how does the dog (learner) FEEL now?

The cessation of a problem behaviour does not by default improve dog welfare.

How the dog FEELS about no longer engaging in the undesired behaviour will tell us whether their overall (emotional) welfare state has improved.

LOOK AT THE DOG.

Does the dog look RELAXED?

Does the dog look HAPPY?

It's entirely possible to make the training experience and outcome a positive one for all, regardless of the problem behaviour.

** I say 'successfully trained' because, let's face it.......are we seeing evidence of these 'fixed dangerous dogs' being handled by the owner in the problem context? Are we seeing videos of these dogs months down the line?

One video doesn't tell us much. But what it can tell us how the dog FEELS about the training and whether that professional is improving dog welfare, as they so often claim to be

Photo by Matt Elliott Pet Photography

18/10/2024

Caring for a dog, especially reactive or anxious can be emotionally challenging!

Owners often experiencing feelings of guilt, anger, sadness, or even grief. Dog parents are frequently misunderstood and judged by friends, neighbors, or family members who lack experience in dog training.

The journey with a reactive dog is undeniably tough, but there are countless ways to enrich both your dog's life and your own, finding joy and connection in the process.

🐕🎁🌷Create a Sensory Garden – Collect different textures like rocks, sheep wool, pinecones, or wood. Let your dog sniff and have a look at what have you brought from shop. Watch your dog explore and enjoy the new smells and sensations.

🐕👃🎲Nosework & Scent Games – Try nosework activities to challenge your dog’s brain. It builds their confidence and deepens your bond. Some of those games can be really simple! You will love to see how good you and your dog are getting at it with the time and practice!

🐕✌️Find Quiet Walks – Skip the crowded parks! Look for peaceful trails or quiet spaces where your dog can go on a “sniffari” using a long line. Think out of the box, it does not always have to be forest. Going to empty carpark or friend's garden can also be a new experience!

🐕🧩DIY Puzzle Games – Hide treats around the house, or use simple objects like muffin tins, toilet roll or egg boxes to create scent challenges. These can be fun and affordable ways to stimulate your dog.

🐕🏡🌳Explore New Environments – Even visiting a friend’s house offers new smells and experiences for your dog. It’s a low-pressure way to explore together.

By focusing on these enriching activities, you can bring more joy, reduce stress, and feel more connected to your dog. It is so important to see bright side when working with problem behaviour!
It is important to train and work but finding peace and happiness together is what will build a better, enriched life!

17/10/2024

Why Emotions Matter in the Human-Dog Relationship 🧠♥️

The bond between humans and dogs is deeply emotional.

🐾Dogs can easily sense and respond to human emotions!

🤓Different people from science world confirm this!

🫀Marc Bekoff highlights that dogs experience feelings like joy and fear.

🫀Frans de Waal points out that dogs, like primates, show empathy. Dogs comfort us when we’re upset, showing they understand our emotions.

🫀Building trust through kindness and emotional connection, as Jane Goodall has shown with animals, is key to this bond.

The Role of Emotional Regulation

Modern psychology emphasizes the importance of emotional regulation—our ability to manage and respond to emotions. This skill is crucial in relationships with dogs. When humans can stay calm and can help their own emotions, it has a positive effect on dogs, who easily sense and mirror our mental states. There are many ways to help to regulate yourself and your dog. We need to think about our pets but also giving enough time to ourselves, recognizing when we need more support or when we simply need little break.

People and dogs both have rich emotional life's it is our job to maintain good mental health of both. Being kind to yourself and your companion dog will help you to live fulfilled life.

🐕♥️Surround yourself with those who are kind and empathic to you and other beings!

15/10/2024

Our companion dogs, similar to us humans, often experience stress. This might be caused by various factors like living in the city, coping with noises, constant contact with unfamiliar people and dogs, lack of enrichment, restraint, or boredom.

There are a few simple things we can do to help our pet dogs cope better. Not only will this benefit your dog, but you will also feel more relieved. People often come to trainers with issues like pulling on the lead, barking, constant excitement, or other behavioral problems. To tackle these problems, it’s better to take a holistic approach and work on different aspects of your dog's life.

Here are a few suggestions:

🐕Make sure with your vet that there isn’t any pain or other condition causing discomfort. There are many options of pain management, it's really important to get right diagnosis! A lot of our dogs experience pain but can't tell us about!

🐕Allow more exploring and sniffing on your walks.

🐕Physical exercise is often not the solution for stress. Inaccurate activity can even add to it.

🐕Get rid of harmful activities like playing fetch, chasing balls, or chasing animals. This only leads to release of cortisol(known as stress hormone but also a hormone which helps animals to hunt/chase effectively).

🐕Give your dog plenty of opportunities to chew.

🐕Engage with some mental stimulation games. Some activities can be really fun and simple. Try treat searching or teach your dog to find your keys!

🐕Allow your dog more space from things that may be potentially stressful. Choose calm walks on a long line during quieter hours.

🐕Make sure your dog sleep enough. This would be about 14 hours/day.

These are just a few examples, but if you make these changes, you'll likely feel some relief! I hope this post inspires you to start a new routine!

06/10/2024

The Importance of Rest and Sleep in Dogs🐕🌜💤

Just like humans, dogs need ample rest and sleep for their physical and mental well-being. Research shows that free-ranging dogs, such as street dogs, sleep or rest for about 🐾 12 to 14 hours a day🐾. Domestic dogs, depending on their age and health, also need around 12 to 14 hours of sleep per day, with some needing even more. Most of the time dogs aren’t asleep, they are resting—either lounging around or conserving energy.

Sleep is critical for a dog's overall health. It supports proper functioning of the nervous system, aids digestion, and is essential for regulating glucose, the body's sugar. Proper rest ensures that a dog's body can process nutrients effectively and maintain a balanced metabolism. When sleep is disrupted, it can lead to various health issues and behavioral problems, including irritability, hyperactivity, and even aggression.

Studies have shown that sleep deprivation in dogs can trigger behavior issues, such as heightened anxiety, difficulty learning, and poor impulse control.
Dr.Amber Batson, a veterinarian specializing in behavior and aggression, frequently emphasizes the link between insufficient sleep and behavioral problems. Many of the issues people encounter with their dogs—ranging from reactivity to aggression—stem also from a lack of adequate sleep.

Research on canine sleep patterns highlights that during sleep, dogs experience vital processes such as memory consolidation and nervous system repair, similar to humans. Without enough restful sleep, dogs can become stressed, which impacts their ability to learn and function in their daily lives.

Ensuring that your dog gets enough sleep can greatly improve their overall quality of life. By providing a quiet and comfortable space for rest, and understanding the importance of their sleep needs, you can prevent potential health and behavioral problems, fostering a healthier, happier dog.